Wendy Weil Atwell

Arts writer Wendy Weil Atwell chronicles the collection and describes the work of the artists. They include Martin Richman, a light artist based in London; Bill Fontana, a sound artist in San Francisco; Donald Lipski, a sculptor in Philadelphia; and four San Antonio-based artists, Stuart Allen, who works with light and color; painter Mark Schlesinger; metal sculptor George Schroeder; and Carlos Cortés, a third-generation sculptor with unique expertise in faux bois. All were challenged by having to deal with narrow river banks and the crude undersides of bridges through once neglected neighborhoods now transformed by the project.

Few projects have galvanized the imagination of San Antonians like the nine spectacular works of public art highlighting the "art reach" of the San Antonio River Walk. The River Spectacular features dramatic color photographs by Mark Menjivar exploring the array of painting, sculpture, sound and light along the 1.3 mile Urban Segment of the winding Museum Reach north of downtown. The artworks,...